SITKOL is not one of his best albums. There's a lot of superfluous bumf on it, as The Slider has already suggested. It does, however, contain some great tunes, and I've often thought that if 50% of it was binned it could have been an absolute cracker.

I also agree with Slidey as regards my favourite track. I Wish has one of the funkiest, grooviest intro's that I know, and the brass on the playout is fantastic.

I do have a major soft spot for Lately, though.

He's a simpleton. 200 years ago they wouldn't have let him milk a cow.

I disagree with much of what you've said, but accept it as just different tastes, a matter of opinion. This, however, is insanity.

Hey Pep! wrote:'Jesus Children..'? Pure sugar.

I'm not religious and I get a bit turned off by religious proselytizing in song, but this track is not simple "la la la la la, Jesus loves all the little children." It sounds like you quit listening after the first verse and never listened to the music. This is a song about desperation and indignation and it's performed as such, with a seething menace. It's a song terrifically applicable to the situation in the US today, with "Christians" controlling the government and culture who treat their faith as membership in a powerful fraternity and have no idea what their organization is meant to be.

And Mr. Chopping--- I didn't take to Talking Book immediately, myself. I think it may be a bit of a grower. Give it a few more spins, see if it seeps in a little, before giving up on it.

You Are the Sunshine of my Life and Too High both start with wonderfully jazz-influenced sounds. The augmented and diminshed chords that accompany not the genius star of the album by two backing singers on Sunshine, and the whoom-sound of the bass on Too High.

I also love the Funkadelic like background noise throughout Sunshine, a song which also features some of Stevie's best singing.

Too High is madcap magic from start to finish. The tinging cymbal that dances throughout the song is terrific, as is his perfect harp solo.

And that 'You Are The Sunshine of My Life' (which may well be a little musically lightweight but hardly in the same league of nursery rhyme sing-song as IJCTSILY) is in the same lyrically-trite catagory?

I think you are probably on your own on that one.

David Bowie Reduxed Mp3 set now available in the usual place, should you want one

And that 'You Are The Sunshine of My Life' (which may well be a little musically lightweight but hardly in the same league of nursery rhyme sing-song as IJCTSILY) is in the same lyrically-trite catagory?

I think you are probably on your own on that one.

Exactly. I can almost agree with Coan's sentiment if not for the fact that:

a) The sugary ones during his classic album run at least have a sense of effort being put into them, regardless of whether or not they're my personal taste, and

b) any album that has one of the funkiest tracks ever made- like every single one between Talking Book and SitKOL- I tend to be forgiving of.

And if you really need it spelled out for you, get the box set. Play discs 1-3 and you'll definitely skip a few tracks here and there. But play disc 4 and, except for the first few tracks, you'll have to take a shower afterwards.

I can even get behind the idea that we're too forgiving of him, but to say the 70s is loaded with songs as bad as IJCTSILY- that's a bridge too far.

sloopjohnc wrote:Aslan has some good credenitals - got his BA from Santa Clara, a Jesuit school and his Masters from Harvard and PhD from Santa Barbara, a surfing school.

For me, Innervisions is one of the greatest albums of all time. There's no other single (as opposed to double) album I've got that has so much variety on it: the ups and downs of love, songs that deal with politics, racism and religion. It's got funk, soul, pop and ballads. It's just fantastic and there's not a duff moment on it. As good as Talking Book is, I cannot help but see it as Innervisions with 50% less fat and more added sugar.

But as for my favourite song, it comes from SITKOL, perhaps the Stevie Wonder album that prompts the most debate. It does have some great moments but the descent into mediocrity has well and truly begun. 'Knocks Me Off My Feet' is anything but mediocre: joyous, melodically spot-on, and with a key change to die for. Its romantic without being cheesy, and wouldn't have sounded out of place if it had been on Innervisions.

Chris Chopping wrote:So I went out and picked up Talking Book. What a dissapointment. I Believe (When I Fall...) is great of course and Superstition is alright but not amazing. You Are The Sunshine In My Life is a keyboard stuck in demonstration mode and the rest is dull.

I was another latecomer to Stevie. It took me a long time to really enjoy Talking Book. But i think it is worth persevering.